AUTHOR=Zhao Shuqing , Li Mengyu , Ren Xiaopeng , Wang Chuyuan , Sun Xinbo , Sun Manli , Yu Xiumei , Wang Xiaodong 

TITLE=Enhancement of broad-spectrum disease resistance in wheat through key genes involved in systemic acquired resistance

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1355178

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1355178

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is an inducible disease resistance phenomenon in plant species, providing plants with broad-spectrum resistance to secondary pathogen infections beyond the initial infection site. In <italic>Arabidopsis</italic>, SAR can be triggered by direct pathogen infection or treatment with the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA), as well as its analogues 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA) and benzothiadiazole (BTH). The SA receptor non-expressor of pathogenesis-related protein gene 1 (NPR1) protein serves as a key regulator in controlling SAR signaling transduction. Similarly, in common wheat (<italic>Triticum aestivum</italic>), pathogen infection or treatment with the SA analogue BTH can induce broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew, leaf rust, <italic>Fusarium</italic> head blight, and other diseases. However, unlike SAR in the model plant <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> or rice, SAR-like responses in wheat exhibit unique features and regulatory pathways. The acquired resistance (AR) induced by the model pathogen <italic>Pseudomonas syringae</italic> pv. <italic>tomato</italic> strain DC3000 is regulated by <italic>NPR1</italic>, but its effects are limited to the adjacent region of the same leaf and not systemic. On the other hand, the systemic immunity (SI) triggered by <italic>Xanthomonas translucens</italic> pv. <italic>cerealis</italic> (<italic>Xtc</italic>) or <italic>Pseudomonas syringae</italic> pv. <italic>japonica</italic> (<italic>Psj</italic>) is not controlled by <italic>NPR1</italic> or SA, but rather closely associated with jasmonate (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), and several transcription factors. Furthermore, the BTH-induced resistance (BIR) partially depends on <italic>NPR1</italic> activation, leading to a broader and stronger plant defense response. This paper provides a systematic review of the research progress on SAR in wheat, emphasizes the key regulatory role of NPR1 in wheat SAR, and summarizes the potential of pathogenesis-related protein (<italic>PR</italic>) genes in genetically modifying wheat to enhance broad-spectrum disease resistance. This review lays an important foundation for further analyzing the molecular mechanism of SAR and genetically improving broad-spectrum disease resistance in wheat.</p>